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Saturday, October 18, 2003
What 'Playing the Race Card' Ultimately Leads To
Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe: "But few here believe that Mugabe, who has hinted he might retire, will relinquish power so easily. After all, he is building another lavish palace. And, in one of the strange paradoxes that seem to define the continent's politics, he was recently applauded by fellow African leaders at the start of a development summit in Tanzania.
Playing their version of the race card, some of those same leaders voice approval of the Mugabe government's policy of taking land away from white farmers and redistributing it mostly to Mugabe's cronies. This has led to a sharp decline in agricultural production, helping sow the seeds of economic disaster and starvation. It's one thing to try to provide opportunities for long-oppressed, poor blacks. It is another to destroy the country in doing so. "
Playing their version of the race card, some of those same leaders voice approval of the Mugabe government's policy of taking land away from white farmers and redistributing it mostly to Mugabe's cronies. This has led to a sharp decline in agricultural production, helping sow the seeds of economic disaster and starvation. It's one thing to try to provide opportunities for long-oppressed, poor blacks. It is another to destroy the country in doing so. "
The Bill of No Rights
ARTICLE I You do not have the right to a new car, big-screen color TV or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.
ARTICLE II You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc., but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.
ARTICLE III You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful, do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all of your relatives independently wealthy.
Read the other seven articles at The S Files - Collectible Charlie Sykes
ARTICLE II You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc., but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.
ARTICLE III You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful, do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all of your relatives independently wealthy.
Read the other seven articles at The S Files - Collectible Charlie Sykes
Johnny Carson Guest Stars on The Jack Benny Show
"This particular episode of the Jack Benny Show is from the early sixties, probably 1963-64, only a couple of seasons after Johnny had taken over the hosting duties on the Tonight Show. While I probably watched this program when it was originally broadcast, and thoroughly enjoyed it, I couldn't possibly have known over thirty years ago, that this young Johnny Carson fellow would someday become a true TV legend.
The whole premise of this Jack Benny Show episode was that the more experienced Benny was advising the young, inexperienced Carson, giving Carson the benefit of Benny's wisdom. While this was probably very timely, and quite humorous when originally broadcast; the real humor of that particular situation can only fully be appreciated today. Johnny Carson was obviously a success as the new host of the Tonight Show, but who knew in the early sixties that Carson would reign as "King of Late-Night" for almost 30 years."
The whole premise of this Jack Benny Show episode was that the more experienced Benny was advising the young, inexperienced Carson, giving Carson the benefit of Benny's wisdom. While this was probably very timely, and quite humorous when originally broadcast; the real humor of that particular situation can only fully be appreciated today. Johnny Carson was obviously a success as the new host of the Tonight Show, but who knew in the early sixties that Carson would reign as "King of Late-Night" for almost 30 years."
Wontons? Not Now!
And other palindromes to amuse you on your trip to the Yreka Bakery
The Big 80’s Christmas
Nothing says Christmas like tinsel, silver bells, candy canes…and the Ramones, The Waitresses, and Queen. Holiday hits like “Jingle Bell Rock” or “Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You,” whose videos garnered heavy rotation on VH1 back in the day, will instantly take you to those holidays past, when Atari video games, Cabbage Patch Kids, and Transformers cleaned out your parents’ bank account. The Big 80’s – Christmas, a collection of 16 of the era’s greatest Yuletide favorites, is the perfect stocking-stuffer for any ’80s music lover. Includes Los Lobos’ hard-to-find version of “Rudolph The Manic Reindeer.” So break out the eggnog, hang the mistletoe, and rock the halls!
Friday, October 17, 2003
Hollywood's Missing Movies
In the decade since the Berlin Wall fell, or even the decade before that, no Hollywood film has addressed the actual history of communism, the agony of the millions whose lives were poisoned by it, and the century of international deceit that obscured communist reality. The simple but startling truth is that the major conflict of our time, democracy versus Marxist-Leninist totalitarianism--what The New York Times recently called "the holy war of the 20th century"--is almost entirely missing from American cinema. It is as though since 1945, Hollywood had produced little or nothing about the victory of the Allies and the crimes of National Socialism. This void is all the stranger since the major conflict of our time would seem to be a natural draw for Hollywood.
Ghostbusters Fascinating Facts
By Hans Schneck. When pre-production began nobody realized that Filmation had produced a Saturday morning children's show called "The Ghost Busters" back in the 1975-76 television season. So Ivan Reitman and his crew were uncertain what their film would be called. It was maybe going to be called "Ghoststoppers." However, Columbia Pictures finally struck a deal with Filmation to call the classic movie "Ghostbusters."
The film was so successful an animated series followed called "The Real Ghostbusters" 1986-1990, and "Extreme Ghostbusters" later in 1997.
The film was so successful an animated series followed called "The Real Ghostbusters" 1986-1990, and "Extreme Ghostbusters" later in 1997.
A Pioneer of Music Animation
ANIMUSIC is a company producing 3D computer graphics music animation. Both the graphics and the music are entirely digitally synthesized. Virtual instruments are invented by building computer graphics models of objects that would appear to create the sound of the corresponding music synthesizer track. Graphical instruments range from being reminiscent of existing instruments to arbitrarily abstract.
ANIMUSIC uses proprietary motion generation software called MIDImotion, to drive animation parameters within commercial packages. Without MIDImotion, animating instruments using traditional "keyframing" techniques would be prohibitively time-consuming and inaccurate. By combining motion generated by approximately 12 algorithms (each with 10 to 50 parameters), the instrument animation is automatically generated with sub-frame accuracy. If the music is changed, the animation is regenerated effortlessly.
ANIMUSIC uses proprietary motion generation software called MIDImotion, to drive animation parameters within commercial packages. Without MIDImotion, animating instruments using traditional "keyframing" techniques would be prohibitively time-consuming and inaccurate. By combining motion generated by approximately 12 algorithms (each with 10 to 50 parameters), the instrument animation is automatically generated with sub-frame accuracy. If the music is changed, the animation is regenerated effortlessly.
Design Your Own Twenty Dollar Bill
This fun game is a great way to introduce children to money by allowing them to design their own currency.
Meals Ready to Eat
The Long Life Food Depot:Your source for MRE's just like the Army uses. Ready-to-Eat Individual Serving Pouches are the correct mealtime solution for emergency preparedness, camping, hunting, and all outdoor activities.
Thursday, October 16, 2003
Packing Material for Those Fragile Christmas Presents
For the first time online the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is offering a 5lb bag of Shredded U.S. Currency. This bag contains a minimum of $10,000 worth of Shredded U.S. currency notes.
The 2004 Demotivators Classic Calendar
"Whether you're a pessimist, underachiever or a chronic failure, I personally offer my unconditional guarantee that Demotivators will truly inspire you to new lows!" E.L. Kersten, Ph.D., Founder and COO
Unusual 'Life' in the Basement of a Funeral Home
MADISON, Wis. -- Upstairs is where Sam Sanfillippo prepares the bodies, adding the right touches of makeup to make the deceased look at peace. Downstairs, the bodies are presented differently: albino squirrels playing Fisher-Price Basketball, hula-skirted chipmunks dancing in a "Topless Girlie Show," a badger in a red University of Wisconsin sweater fading back to pass a football.
Upstairs is Sanfillippo's career of six decades. Downstairs is his hobby of longer than that, a museum featuring about 1,200 of the fish he has caught and another 1,500 or so animals, large and small, that either he has hunted or that have been brought in as roadkill so he could have them stuffed, mounted and often inserted into whimsical dioramas complete with costumes and motorized parts. (via Weird Wisconsin)
Upstairs is Sanfillippo's career of six decades. Downstairs is his hobby of longer than that, a museum featuring about 1,200 of the fish he has caught and another 1,500 or so animals, large and small, that either he has hunted or that have been brought in as roadkill so he could have them stuffed, mounted and often inserted into whimsical dioramas complete with costumes and motorized parts. (via Weird Wisconsin)
And Then Let's Rename The Holiday Martin Luther King - Ronald Reagan Day
Pandering politicians. Where would we be without 'em?
Straying Off The Lewis and Clark Trail
Some towns in northeast Nebraska are celebrating a lesser-known member of the Corps of Discovery expedition who was definitely the most directionally challenged person in the group. Pvt. George Shannon almost died of starvation during the expedition when he got lost for 16 days while in present-day northeast Nebraska just south of the Missouri River. No one knows for sure the route Shannon walked before being reunited with the explorers on the river. That hasn't stopped 15 Nebraska communities in the area from creating and promoting the 240-mile Shannon Trail. (via TRM)
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
The Guy Who Burned Adolf Hitler's Body is Dead
Otto Günsche, an aide to Adolf Hitler who burned the Nazi dictator's body in the final days of the Second World War to keep it from the advancing Soviets, has died, his family said Monday. He was 86. Günsche said in a recent AP interview that Hitler had personally ordered him to burn his body. When the day came, Hitler's chief-of-staff, Martin Bormann, attempted to set the corpses of Hitler and Braun alight in the garden of the Reich chancellery in Berlin. But it was Günsche who threw a burning rag that started the fire.
The Story Behind The Funny Sign
Once designated to be a jet fighter base, Richard Bong State Recreation Area is fittingly named after Maj. Richard I. Bong, a Poplar, Wisconsin, native who was America's leading air ace during World War II. The project was abandoned three days before concrete was to be poured for a 12,500-foot runway. Local citizens had the foresight to protect this open space for future generations. In 1974 the state bought the land and it became the state's first recreation area.
Marjorie Bong Drucker , widow of WW2 flying ace and war hero Richard I. Bong, who became a celebrity when America saw her picture painted on the nose of her fiancée's P-38 Lightning fighter plane which became known as "Marge's plane" and she became known as "the most shot-after girl in the South Pacific" (Richard Bong was killed in a plane crash in 1945), and who later became an outspoken advocate for veterans and preserving history, writing a book and opening the Richard I. Bong World War II Heritage Center, died of cancer on Oct. 4 in Superior, WI at age 79 .
We Thank The LA Times For This Addition to the English Language
Dirty Tricks Thursday: n. "The Thursday before an election when candidates often accuse opponents of scandalous behavior knowing that the charges will bring headlines while also allowing the opponents little time to refute the charges."
2003 First Flight Centennial Silver Proof Dollar
Big Ten Chokes In Regards To Reynolds
JS Online: "With the Robert Reynolds case, the Big Ten had a chance Monday to take a real stand against unacceptable behavior on the football field. Instead, the conference dropped the ball. By accepting Ohio State's weak one-game suspension of its linebacker for choking and jabbing at the throat of Wisconsin quarterback Jim Sorgi on Saturday night, the Big Ten all but swept the ugly incident under the FieldTurf. When Lee Evans called it "one of the lowest things I've ever seen in a football game," the UW receiver nailed it as cleanly as his 79-yard touchdown reception that beat the Buckeyes, 17-10.
At the risk of casting the league in an ominous Big Brother light, it should have taken the matter away from Ohio State and handled it in a more appropriate manner. The prime-time game allowed the country to see Reynolds squeezing Sorgi's neck while the quarterback was on the ground. Had the incident occurred on the street, Reynolds could have been arrested. A one-game suspension for choking someone? That's a joke."
At the risk of casting the league in an ominous Big Brother light, it should have taken the matter away from Ohio State and handled it in a more appropriate manner. The prime-time game allowed the country to see Reynolds squeezing Sorgi's neck while the quarterback was on the ground. Had the incident occurred on the street, Reynolds could have been arrested. A one-game suspension for choking someone? That's a joke."
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
"Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific" Shampoo Available Once Again
"Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific Shampoo & Conditioner were originally manufactured in the mid-1970's by Jergens. They were heavily advertised in the USA with the familiar phrase "Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific!" A lot of people remember seeing those ads, and also remember having people tell them how terrific their hair smelled when they used "Gee". Gee was still available into the 1980's, but in the early to mid 80's Jergens stopped making "Gee", so it was no longer available. It was no longer available in the USA that is!
During the time Gee Shampoo and Conditioner was still available in the USA, Jergens licensed "Gee" products to be made and sold in the Philippines. Well, guess what? They are still being made and sold in the Philippines today! Yes, that's right, fresh and deliciously "Scent- Sational" Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific Shampoo and Conditioner are still being made and still available. But, they are only available one place in the world - The Philippines! But, we are here to fill the need and desire that people in the USA still have for "GEE". You can order directly from us and we will ship it to you directly from the Philippines!"
During the time Gee Shampoo and Conditioner was still available in the USA, Jergens licensed "Gee" products to be made and sold in the Philippines. Well, guess what? They are still being made and sold in the Philippines today! Yes, that's right, fresh and deliciously "Scent- Sational" Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific Shampoo and Conditioner are still being made and still available. But, they are only available one place in the world - The Philippines! But, we are here to fill the need and desire that people in the USA still have for "GEE". You can order directly from us and we will ship it to you directly from the Philippines!"
Fake ATM Receipts
PrankPlace.com: "Pick up women or men quickly at bars, dances, social events. After you write your number on this receipt (conveniently folded in your wallet), hand it to the member of opposite sex and watch how fast they call you! When she sees the SIZE of your bank balance, she'll be digging YOUR 'gold' in no time! Even has the typical black bars on back of the receipt for added authenticity!"
Do Wisconsin Teachers Have the Courage to Repudiate Ed Asner?
Now that Ed Asner has admitted he admires Joseph Stalin, will Wisconsin teachers disown him as their spokesman?
Update: It now looks like Ed only wants to play Uncle Joe, and not be Uncle Joe. Still, I think Mary Tyler Moore or Ted Knight would be a better spokesperson for the teachers.
Update: It now looks like Ed only wants to play Uncle Joe, and not be Uncle Joe. Still, I think Mary Tyler Moore or Ted Knight would be a better spokesperson for the teachers.
Mushroom Picker Survives Five Days in Stone Well
Vladivostok News: "A mushroom picker from the city of Artyom near Vladivostok fell down a stone well and spent five days there before being freed by rescuers. During his fall Leonid Semyonov lost consciousness, injured both his arms and legs and was bruised heavily. When the unlucky mushroom gatherer regained consciousness he tried to escape from the narrow stone trap but all attempts failed. The man spent five days without food and water and slept upright."
Check out how they do school fire drills in Vladivostok.
Check out how they do school fire drills in Vladivostok.
Price War on Black Jack, Beemans and Clove Gum
Groovycandies.com has it for less. They also have those hot cinnamon toothpicks. (Many thanks to Jim Worley for this tip!)
Monday, October 13, 2003
He Changed The Course of History Forever
Restoring the reputation of Christopher Columbus: "Even in America, imperial aggression was commonplace. The Aztecs of central Mexico expanded territory and power by vanquishing adjacent empires through intimidation and human sacrifice until the time of Spanish colonization. During a single festival month at the end of the 15th century, the Aztecs killed 100,000 slaves and prisoners of war.
Columbus' own words make clear: His plan wasn't to conduct ethnic cleansing as some now describe it. His plan was to find a trade route to the Asia-India corridor."
Columbus' own words make clear: His plan wasn't to conduct ethnic cleansing as some now describe it. His plan was to find a trade route to the Asia-India corridor."
Crazed Golfer Attacks and Clubs to Death 160 Turkeys
An Unsolved Mystery From 1999: "Authorities continue to search for the crazed madman who jumped a fence surrounding a Barron County turkey farm and clubbed to death more than 160 innocent turkeys. The rampaging attacker cut a bloody swath through the 15-week-old turkeys with a golf club, which authorities found at the scene. No word yet whether it was an iron or a wood."
Why North America Has Done Better Than South America
Why did North America overtake its Latin twin to the south?: "William James correctly identified North Americans as ruthless pragmatists; they do not mix reality and fantasy. They may have a sentimental liking for Westerns and the man on horseback, but do not look to such myths for salvation. Latin American culture, by contrast, is deeply imbricated with the interpenetration of appearance and reality; we see this not just in the cult of 'magical realism' but in Don Quixote himself, an archetype representing Spain's metaphysical confusion. At times the author himself seems befogged in much the same way. To say that Argentina is 'a classic case of a country that has talked itself into decline' is to beg all the questions. Why did Australia and Canada not talk themselves into decline?" (via Arts and Letters Daily)
High Tech Dumbbells for Just $299
The Nautilus SelectTech dumbbells combine a sleek look with a patent-pending locking mechanism that allows the user to securely change the weight on the handle. The mechanism only works while the handle is inserted into the base, eliminating the chance of accidents with dropped plates. See the photo
Proctologist Lab Coat
You'll look like an official licensed medical practitioner in our authentic reconditioned hospital lab coat. This coat has been specially selected, inspected and disinfected for your exclusive use. Coat is emblazoned with a genuine-looking sewn-on patch for the distinguished medical specialty. Coat is made from durable, machine washable fabric. You'll have more fun playing doctor than ever before! XL size only, fits most.
Sunday, October 12, 2003
The Origin of A Sports Tradition
Tommy Edwards was the Chicago Stadium voice of the Chicago Bulls for 14 years and the next time you go to a game and they play "Rock n Roll Part II" and the crowd yells "Hey!" you can blame Edwards. He was the first to play the song during a sporting event. He was also the first to use the Alan Parsons Project "Sirus" as an introduction bed. Now both songs are being used throughout the country at various events. (from larrylujack.com)
Thomas Nast Christmas Postcards in Full Color
24 Ready-to-Mail Postcards. Drawings by America's foremost cartoonist and creator of the popular image of Santa.
Rickover's Basic Principles for Doing Your Job
"Since the end of World War II, the number of high grade civilians in relation to the total (federal government) workforce has steadily increased to the point where we have more managers and checkers, than we have doers. Our senior employees have been schooled in this 'new' philosophy which holds that, as long as a person is well-versed in a few simple rules of how to handle people and situations, he need not know anything about the details of the programs he is managing or the increasingly sophisticated technologies on which many of these programs are based. This has allowed the non-professional to achieve high status and high pay within the government. If trouble erupts, they can then blame those beneath them or those who preceded them. Until this false concept is rooted out of the federal
government, we cannot expect the American people to retain their trust in government. In fact, they should not.
I do not hold much hope for this being done before a major disaster befalls the United States. But I can provide some basic principles for doing job which I have followed for over 50 years government service and which I have instilled in my senior managers. If these principles were emphasized, they would go a long way toward reversing their current trend."
government, we cannot expect the American people to retain their trust in government. In fact, they should not.
I do not hold much hope for this being done before a major disaster befalls the United States. But I can provide some basic principles for doing job which I have followed for over 50 years government service and which I have instilled in my senior managers. If these principles were emphasized, they would go a long way toward reversing their current trend."
Should Ohio State Football Player Be Charged With Battery?
In Saturday Night's game, Wisconsin starting quarterback Jim Sorgi was injured when Buckeyes linebacker Robert Reynolds shoved his fingers into his throat in the third quarter. This happened long after Sorgi was tackled; the camera clearly shows Reynolds shoving his hand into Sorgi's throat in the pileup.
I say Yes. Not that I'm waiting or anything . . .
I say Yes. Not that I'm waiting or anything . . .
Driver May Have Been Using Laptop Before Fatal Crash
A private detective may have been using a laptop computer before he sideswiped a car in Lakeville, Ind., killing a woman and critically injuring her teenage son, authorities said Friday. Dale Brenon, 50, was listed in critical condition with head and internal injuries at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Ind., on Friday after his van collided with a car driven by a Hamlet, Ind., woman about 2 p.m. Thursday.
"We believe that (Brenon) was distracted by using his laptop," said Jaimee Thirion, a spokeswoman for the St. Joseph County Police Department. Witnesses reported that Brenon's Pontiac Montana minivan swerved for several hundred feet before striking Bonnie Coffin's Ford Tempo. Brenon was traveling in the southbound lane of U.S. 31 just outside South Bend when he collided with Coffin, who was traveling northbound.
A firefighter at the scene discovered Brenon's laptop, which had been thrown from his van. The laptop was on and running a program when it was found, Thirion said. Investigators do not believe Brenon was under the influence at the time of the accident.
"We believe that (Brenon) was distracted by using his laptop," said Jaimee Thirion, a spokeswoman for the St. Joseph County Police Department. Witnesses reported that Brenon's Pontiac Montana minivan swerved for several hundred feet before striking Bonnie Coffin's Ford Tempo. Brenon was traveling in the southbound lane of U.S. 31 just outside South Bend when he collided with Coffin, who was traveling northbound.
A firefighter at the scene discovered Brenon's laptop, which had been thrown from his van. The laptop was on and running a program when it was found, Thirion said. Investigators do not believe Brenon was under the influence at the time of the accident.
